Can't Make My Lady a Widow Before We Get Married
A somewhat leisurely day passed, and the day of the subjugation arrived.
In the early morning, as the stars faded one by one and dawn began to break, the subjugation team ascended the mountain path in silence, muffling even their footsteps. Irene and Lupera led the way, followed by the saintess, Rita, and me. Bringing up the rear were the skilled demon hunters gathered from each branch.
No one cracked lighthearted jokes. Everyone expected this subjugation to be easy, but no one was foolish enough to let their guard down.
"Lady, did you bring the medicine, just in case?"
Rita whispered softly as we walked.
"Yeah. I brought all four, to be safe."
They were recovery accelerator pills Rita had given me the night before the operation. The Silvernandel family had given two each, but since Rita said she didn't need them much, I ended up with four.
"Good thinking. I just hope you don't get hurt at all..."
"With you here, Rita, it's not easy for me to get hurt anyway."
"That's true. I'll protect you no matter what."
Rita added with a faint smile.
"And we have the saintess with us too."
Looking at our lineup, it seemed impossible to die unless the plan went completely off the rails. Lupera and Rita alone could slaughter most demons without them even breathing. And if any demons somehow landed a hit, as long as it wasn't instant death, the saintess would heal the wounds.
Actually, if it came to the saintess having to heal me, it'd basically be a hopeless situation.
By then, the defensive line would already have collapsed.
I decided not to worry too much.
"Huuu..."
The mountain path grew steeper the farther we went, and by the time we reached the entrance to the valley, the sun had fully risen. Still, the forest inside was dim with fog and shadows, and the unfamiliar energy emanating from the surroundings made everyone tread carefully.
"The valley starts here."
Lupera paused and spoke.
Kardo Valley—a narrow, complex terrain flanked by sheer cliffs on both sides, with a small river running through the center.
"Perfect for ambushes, so stay sharp and follow close. Especially check that no one's missing."
Everyone from front to back nodded at Lupera's words. They reconfirmed their positions and checked their weapons again. In a place where a single mistake could mean life or death—that was the battlefield—no one relaxed their tension.
"It's eerily quiet. They must be hiding for sure."
Rita scanned the surroundings and whispered to me.
"Yeah. The mist is way too thick for it to be just natural fog..."
"There's faint demonic power mixed in the fog—someone cast this on purpose. The only ones on our side who can use magic are the saintess and Miss Irene, so this is..."
Before Rita could finish, a horrific scream echoed from behind.
"Kaaaaaaaack!!"
"...the demons' doing."
Everyone's gazes snapped toward the scream. Then, black shadows began bursting from the fog—like a tidal wave of demons charging from the rear, as if they'd been waiting. Some leaped down from the cliffs above, others ambushed from the riverbed.
"The rear! Demons coming from the back!"
With someone's shout—
Thwack!
One hunter's body floated into the air, head gone, before slamming into the ground.
"Tch. I told you to check carefully."
Lupera clicked her tongue and dashed toward the demons at full speed. Rita drew her sword, ready for battle, gave me a small smile, and said,
"Wait here just a moment, Lady. I'll handle it and be right back."
"Be careful not to get hurt... Got it?"
"Don't worry. I can't make you a widow before we even get married, right?"
Rita stroked my hair.
"I'll be quick. If anything feels dangerous, call my name loud and clear. I'll come running."
"Mm. You too, Rita—tell me if the demon king shows up."
"Of course."
With that, Rita raced off in the direction Lupera had gone. She vanished into the fog at blinding speed. I was worried, but... Rita would handle herself, so I decided to trust her.
As they cut through the oncoming demons, the fog grew thicker. Visibility dropped to less than a meter, but it was no issue for Rita and Lupera. Lupera tracked them by scent and struck; Rita dodged their lunging attacks with sheer reaction speed and counterattacked.
"Hup!"
Thud!
With a grunt, Lupera swung her axe, and a heavy impact sound rang out as three demons' waists split in half, collapsing.
"Nothing beats an axe for smashing demon scum."
Lupera muttered, stomping to retrieve her axe. But in that instant—
Slash!
A sharp, elegant sword arc grazed past Lupera, slicing four demons like paper.
Rita, who had closed in unnoticed, wiped the blood from her blade with her arm and said lightly,
"Oh dear. Swing that slow, and your back might be in danger."
"...Maid bitch."
"Puppy trash."
Rita and Lupera glared at each other fiercely—even as they slashed and smashed the charging demons.
"Wanna bet? Who kills more demons."
"Fine. We don't count the ones we've got so far, right?"
"Of course."
Rita chuckled shortly and leaped into the air. She planted her foot on a demon's head bursting from the fog ahead, slashing downward mid-air.
Schwick—!
A chilling slicing sound, and the demon's upper and lower body separated smoothly, crumpling.
"One."
Rita landed lightly, and Lupera followed, charging straight into a pack of demons.
"Hmph!"
Boom!
Her axe came down with brute force that could shatter boulders. Three demons folded like lightning-struck trees in a straight line.
"Three."
"Lucky. Hitting three at once."
"Shut up and do your part."
Amid their bickering, demon cries and pained screams continued. Unlike their squabbling, Rita and Lupera felled demons with the seamless coordination of long-time comrades—no margin for error as sword and axe tore through them.
"Six."
"Seven."
"Eight."
"...Eleven."
A demon burst from the brush, nimbly aiming for Lupera's side—but Rita's sword pierced its brow first.
"Thirteen."
Rita muttered without turning, yanking her blade free and facing forward again. Lupera ground her teeth.
"...Stealing points."
"Worried about losing by one?"
"Hah. As if. I'll crush you."
The moment Lupera finished speaking, a massive tremor shook the ground. Something emerged from beyond the fog—a grotesque mutant demon, like several fused together. Huge enough to swallow four people whole, with twelve insect-like arms and six eyes embedded in its body.
"That one's worth five points, how about it?"
"Not bad."
Lupera slung her axe over her shoulder, a feral wolfkin grin on her lips.
"Alright then. Let's go."
With that, they charged the mutant. Lupera leaped high for the front; Rita darted low, slicing its flank nimbly. As massive arms swept down to crush them—
Lupera kicked its face off-balance first, and Rita nicked its nape.
"Kiiiiiiii!!"
The scream echoed. Seizing the opening, Lupera smashed its head with her axe while Rita pierced its heart precisely.
Blood sprayed skyward. The mutant collapsed—instantly, without twitching.
Thud.
The massive body hit the ground, clearing the fog momentarily.
"...Done."
Rita twirled her sword, flicking off the black blood. Lupera exhaled, raising her axe with one hand.
"I finished it. Smashed the skull."
"But I dealt the fatal blow. The heart—heart."
"Stubborn bitch."
"Yes, yes. Dumb puppy."
Lupera grumbled, slinging her axe over her shoulder.
"Anyone can see I finished it."
"No, I landed the fatal—"
"Just admit defeat. I'm big enough to let it slide..."
That was the moment.
Thud. Thud.
Vibrations from deep in the earth. Rita and Lupera fell silent. Overwhelming demonic power approached, chilling them to the bone.
"...Looks like now's not the time for us to fight."
"Yeah. Time to run."
The demon king.
Kamasar was coming.